85% of the young population in the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José are interested in voting in the upcoming February elections. However, potential youth voter turnout is influenced by highly variable demographic factors and significant exposure to misinformation.
This is summarized in a study conducted jointly by the United Nations (UN) and the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT). The survey combined quantitative and qualitative tools.
The main findings include:
High interest in voting: 85% of those surveyed expressed a strong willingness to vote in February 2026. 66% responded “definitely yes” and 19% “probably yes.”
Hope: 30.3% of people identified “hope” as the emotion that best describes their feelings about the electoral process. This is on top of negative emotions such as distrust (21.1%), frustration (17.1%), and indifference (11.1%).
High risk of misinformation: Almost 70% of those surveyed do not feel sufficiently informed about the electoral process and its implications.
Significant gender gaps: Women show greater voting intention, but also greater distrust (24.4% vs. 17.5% of men). They also show a lower sense of being informed (only 24.8% feel “highly” or “very well” informed, compared to 35.4% of men).
Education and income influence: “The higher the level of education and income, the greater the intention to participate. And the greater the trust in the system,” suggests the UN and Ulacit study.
Emotional disconnection with the political scene: Qualitative interviews reveal a profound disconnect between the traditional political scene and the emotional needs of citizens. This is especially true among young people, who seek a sense of belonging and community.
4 UN Recommendations Based on the Results
Based on the findings of the UN-ULACIT study, the Organization proposes four pillars to strengthen Costa Rican democracy.
These are summarized in a roadmap “to promote an informed, inclusive, and hopeful electoral process.” Its pillars for youth voting are:
Informed voting and combating misinformation: The UN recommends forging alliances between media outlets, universities, and digital platforms to verify content and disseminate clear and accessible information.
Closing gender and information gaps: Gender-sensitive communications specifically targeted at women are essential to increase their trust and access to electoral information.
Promoting youth voting and a sense of belonging: The UN encourages political parties and candidates to seek to connect with the demands of the new generations. This would bring into play narratives of hope and community that counteract the current disconnect.
Promote dialogue and reject hate: advocate for peaceful dialogue and counteract hate speech. A common front is being promoted against hate speech, violence, and misinformation within the framework of the electoral process.
Keep an eye on hope
Regarding the results, the head of the UN in Costa Rica, Allegra Baiocchi, emphasized the power of hope as a driver of democracy. Her call is to transform it into effective participation.
“Hope is the emotion most people reported regarding the upcoming elections. Although feelings of mistrust, frustration, and indifference also emerged, the fact that hope is the majority must mobilize us all to nurture it, strengthen it, and turn it into concrete democratic action,” she said.
“In a world plagued by wars, the climate crisis, and hate speech, the fact that hope prevails in Costa Rica is a powerful call to action,” the UN representative concluded.
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